This is significant because the BN can no longer amend Johor state laws unilaterally.

Johor Amanah Chairman Aminolhuda Hassan was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying this would be the first time the Umno stronghold would be governed without a two-thirds majority.

“The composition of assemblypersons in the Johor State Assembly has now changed following the statement from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia President Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday about the appointment of Shahruddin as the party’s secretary-general,” he said in a statement today.

He said since Shahruddin, the former Pagoh Umno vice-chairman had joined PPBM, he would automatically lose his Umno membership.

“This means that assemblypersons from BN Johor have decreased from 38 to 37, while the Opposition has increased from 18 to 19, assemblypersons in Johor,” he said.

Aminolhuda predicted that even more Johor assemblypersons from Umno would leave the party before the dissolution of the state assembly.

Meanwhile, he welcomed Shahruddin to the Opposition.

He hoped those in the Opposition could all work together to defeat the BN government in the next general election. – FMT